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. . civics- the study or science of the privileges and obligations of citizens
Civic Education for young children in our schools begins with the home and classroom environment. You, as the teacher have control over the type of learning environment you provide for your students.
Aretha Franklin was right about the importance of RESPECT: Respect- listen to each other, respect differing opinions Effort- do your job, participate Success- promote common goals and objectives Positive attitude- be open minded Excellence- strive for high achievement Coordination- work with others Teamwork Want to have pets in the classroom to help students become more responsible? Go to: http://www.petsintheclassroom.org/
Creating Class Rules: Tips from Nancy Flanagan 8-14-12 http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/teacher_in_a_strange_land/2012/08/who_makes_the_rules_in_a_classroom_seven_ideas_about_rule-making.html Here are seven ideas about creating classroom rules:
1. You're shooting for influence, not control. Fact is, teachers never have absolute control over kids, even using techniques like fear, punishment, isolation and intimidation. (In edu-speak, "consequences.") You want kids to behave appropriately because they understand that there are rewards for everyone in a civil classroom.
2. No matter what rules you put on paper, your most important job is role-modeling those practices, not enforcing them. Behave the way you want kids to behave: Ignore minor, brainless bids for attention. Make eye contact with speakers. Don't be an attention hog--your stories aren't more important than theirs. Don't be rude to kids. Apologize publicly when you're wrong. Remember that you're the adult in the room. It's your calm presence that institutes order, not rules.
3. Rules shouldn't restate the obvious. "No cheating" is a stupid rule. "Bring a pencil to class" is a silly rule. Any rule that begins with "don't" is a challenge to the rebels in every class. Any sub-rule covered by the general idea of being respectful (or, if your students are in first grade, nice) doesn't need specificity.
4. On the other hand, do give clear instructions about what kids don't know. What to do when a tornado is spotted, the lights go out or you're under lockdown--and why following those procedures is critically important. Where the extra, road-kill pencils are, when yours disappears. How to properly feed the guinea pig, sterilize a mouthpiece, or check out a book. Stress: order facilitates learning, makes the class a pleasant place to be.
Students are helpful here. An example: for years, one of my classroom guidelines was putting percussion instruments and mallets in labeled drawers after class. Percussionists were terrible at following this rule. I nagged. They "forgot." Finally, one of them pointed out that there really was no good reason that the most commonly used tools shouldn't stay out, easily reachable, during the week. They weren't going to get dusty overnight--in fact, the extra handling from going in and out of drawers five times a day was hard on mallets. Such common sense. New rule.
5. Integrity helps build community. The most important directives in democratic classrooms are around ethical practices: A clear definition of cheating, understood by all students, in the digital age. Why trust and personal best are more important than winning. Why substandard work isn't ever OK. How true leadership--kids want to be leaders, too-- is a function of respect.
6. Carrots and sticks are temporary nudges toward desirable behavior at best, but ultimately destructive. One of the phrases I hate most in the conversation around acceptable student behavior is "caught being good." One of my kids' elementary school PTAs started a campaign to catch kids "being good"--one per week--and give them $5 and a mention in the P.A. announcements the next day. Fortunately, the first rash of faux "good" behavior from spotlight-seeking 5th graders triggered a quick end to the plan.
It's all in the first bullet: We want kids to behave appropriately because they understand that there are rewards for everyone in a civil, well-managed school.
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civics- the study or science of the privileges and obligations of citizens
Civic Education for young children in our schools begins with the home and classroom environment. You, as the teacher have control over the type of learning environment you provide for your students.
Social Good Now animated Videos: JFK's Speech regarding Education 1963:
http://www.socialgoodnow.com/jfk-on-education-vanderbilt-university-1963/
Let's hear from Kid President:
http://www.wimp.com/kidtalk/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-gQLqv9f4o
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57572471/kid-president-a-boy-easily-broken-teaching-how-to-be-strong/
Watching this will warm your heart:
http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nightly-news/54159717/iCivics video- a QUALITY resource to use in your classrooms: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYM-6goP1WY&sns=em
WOW...let's watch this patriotic video: http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=17867717
https://www.nps.gov/gwmp/planyourvisit/usmc_memorial.htm
Election 2016 Lesson Resources!
Before teaching children during an election year, READ THIS!
https://www.edutopia.org/blog/the-election-and-the-educator-matt-levinson?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=socialflow
http://florida.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/election-central-2016/?topic_id=2341
https://www.commonsense.org/education/blog/teaching-democracy-election-resources-for-the-win?utm_source=DigCit_Tips_2016_11_2&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weekly
http://election.scholastic.com/election-central/Videos/?linkId=29908698
http://election.scholastic.com/election-central/Electoral_Challenge_Game/?linkId=29572649
http://election.scholastic.com/election-central/electoral-college-map/?linkId=29908661
http://www.educationworld.com/a_special/election.shtml
http://election.scholastic.com/election-central/vocabulary/?linkId=29908759
http://sni.scholastic.com/resource/uploads/Newsletters/100116/SN2-Vote-Skill.pdf?linkId=29938215
Kid World Citizen:
http://kidworldcitizen.org/2014/08/23/using-web-take-kids-virtual-field-trips/?crlt.pid=camp.oExhFfe2Js1z
Government flipbook PDF: (Wow)
Want your students to learn more about our WORLD? Try using Global Webcams...
http://gazette.teachers.net/gazette/wordpress/editor/webcams-streaming-video-eduational-entertaining-or-just-plain-silly/
This FREE program helps boys and girls to understand one another:
http://sanfordeducationcenter.org/harmony.cfm
Aretha Franklin was right about the importance of RESPECT:
Respect- listen to each other, respect differing opinions
Effort- do your job, participate
Success- promote common goals and objectives
Positive attitude- be open minded
Excellence- strive for high achievement
Coordination- work with others
Teamwork
Want to have pets in the classroom to help students become more responsible? Go to:
http://www.petsintheclassroom.org/
DR. Jean Cheer Cards!
http://www.drjean.org/html/monthly_act/act_2004/06_june/06_2004a.html
Themes and Activities for GOOD Citizenship:
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr008.shtml
STOP BULLYING NOW...see how at:
http://www.stopbullying.gov/
UCF College of Education and Human Performance Bully Free website:
http://education.ucf.edu/bullyfree/
Let's have a MARBLE JAR PARTY!
Check out:
http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/04/one-size-fits-all-reflecting-on-the-role-of-government/?ref=education
Social Networking Tips (for you and students):
Classroom Management Based on TRUST!
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3752269
Creating a safe and positive classroom- Teaching Channel VIDEO:
https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/create-a-safe-classroom
http://community.prometheanplanet.com/en/blog/b/blog/archive/2011/09/09/classroom-management-ready-set-go.aspx#.TnI_24BJqhw.email
Creating Class Rules: Tips from Nancy Flanagan 8-14-12
http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/teacher_in_a_strange_land/2012/08/who_makes_the_rules_in_a_classroom_seven_ideas_about_rule-making.html
Here are seven ideas about creating classroom rules:
1. You're shooting for influence, not control. Fact is, teachers never have absolute control over kids, even using techniques like fear, punishment, isolation and intimidation. (In edu-speak, "consequences.") You want kids to behave appropriately because they understand that there are rewards for everyone in a civil classroom.
2. No matter what rules you put on paper, your most important job is role-modeling those practices, not enforcing them. Behave the way you want kids to behave: Ignore minor, brainless bids for attention. Make eye contact with speakers. Don't be an attention hog--your stories aren't more important than theirs. Don't be rude to kids. Apologize publicly when you're wrong. Remember that you're the adult in the room. It's your calm presence that institutes order, not rules.
3. Rules shouldn't restate the obvious. "No cheating" is a stupid rule. "Bring a pencil to class" is a silly rule. Any rule that begins with "don't" is a challenge to the rebels in every class. Any sub-rule covered by the general idea of being respectful (or, if your students are in first grade, nice) doesn't need specificity.
4. On the other hand, do give clear instructions about what kids don't know. What to do when a tornado is spotted, the lights go out or you're under lockdown--and why following those procedures is critically important. Where the extra, road-kill pencils are, when yours disappears. How to properly feed the guinea pig, sterilize a mouthpiece, or check out a book. Stress: order facilitates learning, makes the class a pleasant place to be.
Students are helpful here. An example: for years, one of my classroom guidelines was putting percussion instruments and mallets in labeled drawers after class. Percussionists were terrible at following this rule. I nagged. They "forgot." Finally, one of them pointed out that there really was no good reason that the most commonly used tools shouldn't stay out, easily reachable, during the week. They weren't going to get dusty overnight--in fact, the extra handling from going in and out of drawers five times a day was hard on mallets. Such common sense. New rule.
5. Integrity helps build community. The most important directives in democratic classrooms are around ethical practices: A clear definition of cheating, understood by all students, in the digital age. Why trust and personal best are more important than winning. Why substandard work isn't ever OK. How true leadership--kids want to be leaders, too-- is a function of respect.
6. Carrots and sticks are temporary nudges toward desirable behavior at best, but ultimately destructive. One of the phrases I hate most in the conversation around acceptable student behavior is "caught being good." One of my kids' elementary school PTAs started a campaign to catch kids "being good"--one per week--and give them $5 and a mention in the P.A. announcements the next day. Fortunately, the first rash of faux "good" behavior from spotlight-seeking 5th graders triggered a quick end to the plan.
It's all in the first bullet: We want kids to behave appropriately because they understand that there are rewards for everyone in a civil, well-managed school.
GOVERNMENT/DEMOCRACY/CIVIC EDUCATION: